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Friday, May 17, 2013

Inspirational Runner Leads EGHS To Strong D-I Track Showing

Jack Ploeg may only be a sophomore, but the Elk Grove High School runner is one of the Sac-Joaquin Section's top performers in the 800 meters and the 1600 meters. On Friday night at the Section's Division I Track and Field Championships, Ploeg finished fifth in the 1600 and 10th in the 800, both good enough to place him into next week's Section Masters event.

Ploeg is an inspiration to his teammates, even his opponents. He's autistic. Yet through the leadership of his mother Jessie, Jack has overcome his disability to become a quality student in the classroom and on the track oval.

In between the finals in both of his events, I talked with Jack.

Other highlights from the Division I meet, held Friday at EGHS:

The Herd 4x100 relay team of Aiden Tank, Nicholas Bohamera, Armando Martinez and Brandon Bloodworth broke the school record with a mark of 42.47 seconds. That was good for third at the D-I meet.

Martinez came back later to place third in the 400 meters. Sheldon's Cameron Stone was second.

Ciara Levy of Monterey Trail was second in the girls' 100 meter hurdles.

Franklin's Chinyere Dike was first in the girls' 100 meters with a time of 12.47 seconds. Dike led the 4x100 meter relay team to a first place finish in that event. She was joined by Ifunanya Ezimora, Cecily Montanez and Desiree Winters.

Monterey Trail's 4x100 meter relay team placed third and Sheldon was seventh.

Kamaya Tucker of Laguna Creek won the 200 meters in a time of 25.16 seconds. Dike was third in that event.

In the field events, Elk Grove's Jaime Cruz was ninth in the shot put. Richard Cooper of Pleasant Grove was second in the long jump and Monterey Trail's Roman Geiger was third. Tiara Webb of Monterey Trail placed third in the girls' long jump.